Evaluation of Pulmonary Emergencies Using Point-Of-Care Ultrasound in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Review

Point-of-care ultrasound has a wide array of applications in the emergency care of children. Over the past 3 decades, lung ultrasound has evolved and become an asset in evaluating both emergent and critically ill patients. Ultrasound of the lung was once thought to be of little utility because normal lung is aerated and ultrasound cannot directly visualize air. Thus, it was unclear how ultrasound would be beneficial. It is now evident that ultrasound of the chest is extremely useful in evaluating not only normal lung but also pathologic conditions. This article reviews the clinical utility of point-of-care transthoracic lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumothorax, lung consolidations, interstitial syndromes, and pleural effusions.